Image forming apparatus, printing system, and printing information notification method

ABSTRACT

An image forming apparatus includes a network interface and a processor configured to upon receipt of a print job from an external apparatus via the network interface, determine whether hold printing is instructed for executing the print job, when the hold printing is instructed, determine a state of the image forming apparatus, generate information about execution of the print job according to the determined state, and control the network interface to transmit the generated information to the external apparatus.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/566,611, filed on Sep. 10, 2019, the entire contents of which areincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

Embodiments described herein relate generally to an image formingapparatus, a printing system, and a printing information notificationmethod.

BACKGROUND

An image forming apparatus of related art has a function of temporarilystoring a print job issued from a client terminal in a queue of a serveror the image forming apparatus, and holding it until the user operatesthe image forming apparatus to execute the job. This function is called“hold printing” or “demand printing”. The hold printing is used forpreventing another user from viewing or carrying out the documentprinted and discharged to a paper tray of the image forming apparatus.

Such a conventional image forming apparatus also has a function ofentering a power saving mode when not receiving any printing job for apredetermined period of time. In the power saving mode, a temperature ofa fixing unit for fixing a toner image on a sheet is set lower to reducepower consumption. Thus, it needs time for the image forming apparatusin the power saving mode to warm up the fixing unit and become ready forprinting.

As such, if the user has instructed the terminal to perform the holdprinting, he or she may not be able to collect the document immediately,because the image forming apparatus that the user chose is in the powersaving mode. In this case, the user has to wait until warming-up of theimage forming apparatus is completed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a printing systemaccording to a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a clientterminal according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing executability information displayed on adisplay according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of an imageforming apparatus according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a print job table according to the firstembodiment;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of notification processes performedby the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a confirmation screen displayed on theclient terminal according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a flow of notification processes performedby an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment; and

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a flow of notification processes performedby an image forming apparatus according to a third embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In general, according to one embodiment, an image forming apparatusincludes a network interface and a processor configured to upon receiptof a print job from an external apparatus via the network interface,determine whether hold printing is instructed for executing the printjob, when the hold printing is instructed, determine a state of theimage forming apparatus, generate information about execution of theprint job according to the determined state, and control the networkinterface to transmit the generated information to the externalapparatus.

Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus, a printing system, and aprinting information notification method according to embodiments willbe described with reference to the drawings.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a printing system 100according to a first embodiment.

The printing system 100 includes a plurality of client terminals 1 andan image forming apparatus 2. The printing system 100 may include oneclient terminal 1 or may include two or more image forming apparatuses2. The client terminal 1 and the image forming apparatus 2 arecommunicably connected to each other via a network 3. The network 3 maybe a network configured in any manner. For example, the network 3 is anetwork, such as a wireless local area network (LAN) or a wired LAN.

The client terminal 1 is an information processing apparatus, such as asmart phone, a mobile phone, a tablet terminal, a notebook personalcomputer (PC), a PC, or the like. The client terminal 1 instructs theimage forming apparatus 2 to execute printing. In particular, the clientterminal 1 instructs the image forming apparatus 2 to execute printingvia various printing methods, according to an operation of a user. Theprinting methods include, for example, regular printing and holdprinting. The printing methods are not limited thereto.

The regular printing is a printing method in which the image formingapparatus 2 starts printing as soon as receiving a printing instructionfrom the client terminal 1. In the regular printing, the printingoperation is started when there is no print job stored in the imageforming apparatus 2.

The hold printing is a printing method in which a print job istemporarily held in a queue of the image forming apparatus 2, andprinting is executed when the user operates the image forming apparatus2. In the hold printing, a printing operation is not started unless theuser inputs a printing instruction on the image forming apparatus 2. Assuch, in the hold printing, the printing operation is not started unlessthe user operates the image forming apparatus 2 and inputs the printinginstruction to the image forming apparatus 2.

When the image forming apparatus 2 is instructed to execute the holdprinting, the client terminal 1 receives information about execution ofthe hold printing (hereinafter, referred to as “executabilityinformation”) from the image forming apparatus 2. Then, the clientterminal 1 displays the received executability information on a screen.The executability information indicates whether printing is possiblebased on an operation state of the image forming apparatus 2. Forexample, the executability information indicates that (i) printing isexecutable, (ii) a power saving mode is in progress, or (iii) anotherjob is being processed. Also, the executability information may indicatethat (iv) printing is executable but the printer may transition to thepower saving mode within a certain time.

As described above, when the image forming apparatus 2 is instructed toexecute the hold printing, the client terminal displays informationindicating whether printing is immediately possible.

The image forming apparatus 2 is a multi-function printer capable offorming a toner image on a sheet. The sheet is, for example, a piece ofpaper on which a character and/or an image is printed. The sheet is notlimited as long as the image forming apparatus 2 is able to read thesheet. In addition, the image forming apparatus 2 can read an imageprinted on a sheet and generate image information.

Upon receiving a hold printing execution instruction from the clientterminal 1, the image forming apparatus 2 transmits the executabilityinformation according to its own operation state to the client terminal1. The image forming apparatus 2 according to the first embodimenttransmits, to the client terminal 1, the executability informationaccording to the operation state when the hold printing executioninstruction is received from the client terminal 1.

Next, specific configurations of the client terminal 1 and the imageforming apparatus 2 will be described.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the clientterminal 1 according to the first embodiment.

The client terminal 1 includes a processor 101, an input device 102, adisplay 103, a memory 104, an auxiliary storage device 105, and anetwork interface 106. Also, each component included in the clientterminal 1 is connected via a system bus 4 for data communication.

The processor 101 controls operations of each component of the clientterminal 1. The processor 101 executes various processes by executing aprogram stored in a read only memory (ROM) (not shown). Also, theprocessor 101 controls the display 103 to display the executabilityinformation received from the image forming apparatus 2 via a printerdriver.

The input device 102 is an input device, such as a keyboard, a pointingdevice (a mouse, a tablet, or the like), a touch panel, a button, or thelike. The input device 102 receives an operation of the user. The inputdevice 102 outputs a signal according to the operation performed by theuser to the processor 101. The input device 102 and the display 103 maybe configured as an integrated touch-enabled display.

The display 103 is an image display device, such as a liquid crystaldisplay, an organic electro luminescence (EL) display, a cathode raytube (CRT) display, or the like. The display 103 displays theexecutability information.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the executability informationdisplayed on the display 103.

As shown in FIG. 3, executability information 12 is displayed on ascreen of the display 103, in a popup manner. The user is notified ofwhether printing is immediately executable, via such information.

The description will continue by referring back to FIG. 2.

The memory 104 temporarily stores data used by each component includedin the client terminal 1. The memory 104 is, for example, a randomaccess memory (RAM). The memory 104 may temporarily store theexecutability information.

The auxiliary storage device 105 is, for example, a hard disk or a solidstate drive (SSD), and stores various types of data. The various typesof data are, for example, a program of the printer driver.

The network interface 106 transmits or receives data to or from anotherapparatus, e.g., the image forming apparatus 2. The network interface106 operates as an input interface to receive information or aninstruction transmitted from the other apparatus. Also, the networkinterface 106 operates as an output interface to transmit a printingexecution instruction to the other apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the imageforming apparatus 2 according to the first embodiment.

The image forming apparatus 2 includes a display 110, a control panel120, a printer unit 130, a sheet accommodating unit 140, an imagereading unit 200, a network interface 310, an auxiliary storage device320, a memory 330, and a processor 300. Each component included in theimage forming apparatus 2 is connected via a system bus 10 for datacommunication.

The display 110 is an image display device, such as a liquid crystaldisplay, an organic EL display, or the like. The display 110 displaysvarious types of information about the image forming apparatus 2.

The control panel 120 includes a plurality of buttons. The control panel120 receives an operation of the user. The control panel 120 outputs asignal according to an operation performed by the user to the processor300. Also, the display 110 and the control panel 120 may be configuredas an integrated touch-enabled panel.

The printer unit 130 executes an image forming process and an imagefixing process. The image forming process is a process of forming animage on a sheet. The image fixing process is a process of fixing theimage formed on the sheet. In the image forming process, the printerunit 130 forms the image on the sheet based on image informationgenerated by the image reading unit 200 or image information receivedthrough the network interface 310. In the image fixing process, theprinter unit 130 fixes the image on the sheet by heating the sheet wherethe image is formed via a heat roller included in a fixing unit. In thefollowing description, the image forming process and the image fixingprocess are collectively referred to as printing.

The sheet accommodating unit 140 accommodates a sheet on which an imageis formed by the printer unit 130.

The image reading unit 200 reads an image printed on a sheet byrecognizing light and shade. For example, the image reading unit 200reads the image printed on the sheet set on a document reading table.The image reading unit 200 records the read image as image information.The recorded image information may be transmitted to another informationprocessing apparatus through a network. The recorded image informationmay be printed on a sheet by the printer unit 130.

The network interface 310 transmits or receives data to or from anotherapparatus. Here, the other apparatus in the image forming apparatus 2 isthe client terminal 1. The network interface 310 operates as an inputinterface to receive data or an instruction transmitted from the otherapparatus. The instruction transmitted from the other apparatus is aprinting execution instruction. The network interface 310 operates as anoutput interface to transmit the executability information to the otherapparatus.

The auxiliary storage device 320 is, for example, a hard disk or SSD,and stores various types of data. The various types of data are, forexample, digital data, a job, a job log, and a print job table. Theprint job table is a table where a print job is registered.Alternatively, these data may be stored in the memory 330 so that theprocessor 300 can access them quickly.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a print job table according to the firstembodiment.

The print job table includes a plurality of records related toregistered print jobs. Each record has a user ID, a print job, and aprinting method. The user ID indicates a transmission source of theprint job. The user ID may be any information as long as the user, i.e.,the transmission source of the print job, is identifiable. For example,the user ID is a MAC address of the client terminal 1. The print jobindicates a job in which a printing instruction is issued from theclient terminal 1 to the image forming apparatus 2. For example, theprint job is indicated by the file name of a document to be printed,e.g., “ooo.docx” and “xxx.xlsx”. The printing method indicates aprinting method of print data indicated by the print job, e.g., “holdprinting” and “regular printing”.

In the example shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of print jobs is registeredin the print job table. For example, in the print job table, the printjobs from the three client terminals 1 identified by user IDs “AAA”,“BBB”, and “CCC” are registered. Among the print jobs registered in theprint job table, the printing methods of the print jobs of the clientterminals 1 identified by the user IDs “AAA” and “CCC” are holdprinting. Also, among the print jobs registered in the print job table,the printing method of the print job of the client terminal 1 identifiedby the user ID “BBB” is regular printing.

In the example of FIG. 5, the image forming apparatus transmits theexecutability information to the client terminals 1 identified by theuser IDs “AAA” and “CCC”. On the other hand, the image forming apparatus2 does not transmit the executability information to the client terminal1 identified by the user ID “BBB”, because the designated printingmethod is not the hold printing.

The description will continue by referring back to FIG. 4.

The memory 330 temporarily stores data used by each component includedin the image forming apparatus 2. The memory 330 is, for example, a RAM.The memory 330 may store digital data generated by the image readingunit 200. The memory 330 may temporarily store any one of the job, thejob log, and the print job table.

The processor 300 controls operations of each component of the imageforming apparatus 2. The processor 300 performs various processes byexecuting a program stored in ROM (not shown). Here, various processesperformed by the processor 300 according to the first embodiment will bedescribed. When a job received from the client terminal 1 is a holdprint job, the processor 300 transmits to the client terminal 1 theexecutability information according to the operational state of theimage forming apparatus 2.

When a transition notification condition to the power saving mode issatisfied, the processor 300 switches the mode of the image formingapparatus 2 to the power saving mode. The transition notificationcondition to the power saving mode is a condition for notifying thetarget client terminal 1 of a time until transition to the power savingmode. Here, the target client terminal 1 is the client terminal 1 thatinstructed the hold printing.

The processor 300 determines that the transition notification conditionis satisfied when a remaining time until the transition to the powersaving mode (hereinafter, referred to as a “transition remaining time”)at a predetermined point of time is smaller than a threshold value. Onthe other hand, the processor 300 determines that the transitionnotification condition is not satisfied when the transition remainingtime is equal to or greater than the threshold value. The predeterminedpoint of time may be the timing when the state of the image formingapparatus 2 is determined or when the hold print job is received.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of notification processes performedby the image forming apparatus 2 according to the first embodiment.

The network interface 310 receives a job (for example, a print job)transmitted from the client terminal 1 (ACT101). Upon receipt of the jobfrom the network interface 310, the processor 300 registers the job tothe print job table. Then, the processor 300 determines whether theprinting method indicated by the job is hold printing (ACT102). In otherwords, the processor 300 determines whether the job is a hold print job.

When the printing method is not the hold printing (ACT102: NO), theimage forming apparatus 2 ends the processes of FIG. 6. Here, theprinting method is not the hold printing in a case of, for example,regular printing. When the printing method is the regular printing, theprocessor 300 controls the printer unit 130 to print data included inthe job. When the printing is done, the processor 300 deletes the jobfrom the print job table.

When the printing method is the hold printing (ACT102: YES), theprocessor 300 determines the state of the image forming apparatus 2(ACT103). For example, the processor 300 determines whether the imageforming apparatus 2 is processing another job or whether the imageforming apparatus 2 is in the power saving mode or in a ready state. Theready state indicates a state in which a temperature of the fixing unitis maintained at a fixing temperature and printing can be performedimmediately. When the image forming apparatus 2 is processing anotherjob (ACT103: processing another job), the processor 300 generates theexecutability information indicating that the other job is beingprocessed. Then, the processor 300 specifies the client terminal 1 as atransmission source of the job by referring to the print job table.Next, the processor 300 controls the network interface 310 to transmitthe generated executability information to the client terminal 1 as thetransmission source of the job (ACT104). Then, the image formingapparatus 2 ends the process of FIG. 6.

In the process of ACT103, when the image forming apparatus 2 is in thepower saving mode (ACT103: power saving mode), the processor 300generates the executability information indicating that the power savingmode is in progress. Then, the processor 300 specifies the clientterminal 1 as the transmission source of the job by referring to theprint job table. Next, the processor 300 controls the network interface310 to transmit the generated executability information to the clientterminal 1 as the transmission source of the job (ACT105). Then, theimage forming apparatus 2 ends the process of FIG. 6.

Further, in the process of ACT103, when the image forming apparatus 2 isin the ready state (ACT103: ready state), the processor 300 determineswhether the transition notification condition is satisfied (ACT106).When the transition notification condition is not satisfied (ACT106:NO), the processor 300 generates the executability informationindicating that printing is executable. Then, the processor 300specifies the client terminal 1 as the transmission source of the job byreferring to the print job table. Next, the processor 300 controls thenetwork interface 310 to transmit the generated executabilityinformation to the client terminal 1 as the transmission source of thejob (ACT107). Then, the image forming apparatus 2 ends the process ofFIG. 6.

In the process of ACT106, when the transition notification condition issatisfied (ACT106: YES), the processor 300 notifies the client terminal1 of the transition remaining time (ACT108). In detail, first, theprocessor 300 calculates an elapsed time from a predetermined point oftime to a current point of time. Then, the processor 300 calculates theremaining time to the power saving mode by subtracting the calculatedelapsed time from a predetermined transition time. Here, the transitiontime is a time until the image forming apparatus 2 transitions to thepower saving mode. In other words, the image forming apparatus 2transitions to the power saving mode when no process has been performedfor the transition time. Then, the processor 300 generates theexecutability information indicating printing is executable but theimage forming apparatus 2 may transition to the power saving time withinthe calculated remaining time. Next, the processor 300 specifies theclient terminal 1 as the transmission source of the job by referring tothe print job table. Then, the processor 300 controls the networkinterface 310 to transmit the generated executability information to theclient terminal 1 as the transmission source of the job. Accordingly,the client terminal 1 is notified that printing can be performed for theremaining time.

The processor 300 issues a confirmation notification for confirmingwhether to perform the printing immediately. Then, the processor 300specifies the client terminal 1 as the transmission source of the job byreferring to the print job table. Next, the processor 300 controls thenetwork interface 310 to transmit the generated confirmationnotification to the client terminal 1 as the transmission source of thejob. Through this process, the image forming apparatus 2 inquires theclient terminal 1 about whether to perform the printing immediately(ACT109).

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the confirmation notification displayed onthe display 103 of the client terminal 1.

As shown in FIG. 7, a popup screen 15 inquiring whether to performprinting immediately is displayed on the display 103 with select buttons13 and 14. The select button 13 is a button selected when the printingis performed immediately. The select button 14 is a button selected whenthe printing is not performed immediately. The user of the clientterminal 1 operates the input device 102 to select one of the selectbuttons 13 and 14 from the popup screen 15. When one of the selectbuttons 13 and 14 is selected, a response to the confirmationnotification is transmitted from the client terminal 1 to the imageforming apparatus 2.

Thereafter, upon receiving the response to the confirmation notificationfrom the client terminal 1, the processor 300 confirms the content ofthe response to the confirmation notification. The processor 300determines whether the response to the confirmation notificationindicates that the printing is performed immediately (ACT110). When theinformation indicating that the printing is performed immediately(ACT110: YES), the processor 300 extends the time until transition tothe power saving mode. In detail, the processor 300 extends the timeuntil transition to the power saving mode by adding a predetermined timeto the transition remaining time.

On the other hand, when the information indicating that the printing isnot performed immediately (ACT110: NO), the processor 300 does notchange the time until transition to the power saving mode (ACT112).

According to the image forming apparatus 2 of the first embodiment,security by hold printing can be maintained while reducing user'sstandby time. In detail, upon receiving the print job of hold printing,the image forming apparatus 2 transmits the executability informationaccording to the state of the image forming apparatus 2 to the clientterminal 1 that transmitted the print job. Then, the client terminal 1displays the executability information transmitted from the imageforming apparatus 2 on the screen. Accordingly, the user is able toimmediately identify whether printing is executable. Thus, the user isable to execute the printing on the image forming apparatus 2 at timingwhen the printing is executable. Since the user approaches the imageforming apparatus 2 at the timing when the printing is executable, atime until printing is shortened even when the user instructs theprinting after arriving at the image forming apparatus 2. Since theprinting is performed after the user arrives at the image formingapparatus 2, security is maintained. Thus, it is possible to maintainthe security while reducing the standby time of the user.

Further, the image forming apparatus 2 extends the time until transitionto the power saving mode when the user desires immediate printing evenwhen the time until transition to the power saving mode is short.Accordingly, there is no immediate transition to the power saving mode.Thus, the temperature of the fixing unit included in the printer unit130 is maintained to the fixing temperature. Accordingly, the imageforming apparatus 2 is able to execute the printing immediately afterthe printing execution instruction is issued. Consequently, it ispossible to reduce the user's standby time.

Second Embodiment

In the first embodiment, the executability information according to theoperation state of the image forming apparatus 2 when the hold printingexecution instruction is received from the client terminal 1 istransmitted to the client terminal 1. In a second embodiment, the imageforming apparatus 2 transmits the executability information to theclient terminal 1 at timing when the printing is executable after thehold printing execution instruction is received.

In the second embodiment, the configuration of the printing system 100and the components included in the client terminal 1 and the imageforming apparatus 2 are the same as those of the first embodiment.Differences from the first embodiment are the processes performed by theprocessor 300 of the image forming apparatus 2. Hereinafter, only thedifferences will be described.

The processor 300 according to the second embodiment generates theexecutability information at the timing when the printing is executable.In other words, the processor 300 according to the second embodimentdoes not generate the executability information when the image formingapparatus 2 is in the power saving mode or processing another job.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a flow of notification processes performedby the image forming apparatus 2 according to the second embodiment. InFIG. 8, processes identical to those of FIG. 6 are denoted by samereference numerals and details thereof are omitted.

In the process of ACT103, when the image forming apparatus 2 is in thepower saving mode (ACT103: power saving mode), the processor 300switches the mode of the image forming apparatus 2 from the power savingmode to the ready mode (ACT201). In detail, the processor 300 increasesthe temperature of the fixing unit included in the printer unit 130 bysupplying power to the printer unit 130. Accordingly, the temperature ofthe fixing unit included in the printer unit 130 is changed from a powersaving temperature to the fixing temperature. As a result, the imageforming apparatus 2 is ready for printing.

Then, the processor 300 generates the executability informationindicating that printing is executable. Then, the processor 300specifies the client terminal 1 as the transmission source of the job byreferring to the print job table. Then, the processor 300 controls thenetwork interface 310 to transmit the generated executabilityinformation to the client terminal 1 as the transmission source of thejob (ACT202). Then, the image forming apparatus 2 ends the process ofFIG. 8.

In the process of ACT103, when the image forming apparatus 2 isprocessing another job (ACT103: processing another job), the processor300 processes the other job (ACT203). Then, the processor 300 generatesthe executability information indicating that printing is executable.Then, the processor 300 specifies the client terminal 1 as thetransmission source of the job by referring to the print job table.Then, the processor 300 controls the network interface 310 to transmitthe generated executability information to the client terminal 1 as thetransmission source of the job (ACT204). Then, the image formingapparatus 2 ends the process of FIG. 8.

The image forming apparatus 2 according to the second embodimenttransmits the executability information to the client terminal 1 at thetiming when the printing is executable. Accordingly, the user is able toidentify the timing when the printing is executable. Thus, the user isable to execute the printing on the image forming apparatus 2 at thetiming when the printing is executable. Since the user approaches theimage forming apparatus 2 at the timing when the printing is executable,a time until printing is shortened even when the user instructs theprinting after arriving at the image forming apparatus 2. Also, sincethe printing is performed after the user arrives at the image formingapparatus 2, security is maintained. Thus, it is possible to maintainthe security while reducing the standby time of the user.

Third Embodiment

A third embodiment is an embodiment in which the first embodiment andthe second embodiment are combined. In detail, in the third embodiment,the executability information is transmitted to the client terminal 1 atthe timing of transmitting the executability information in each of thefirst embodiment and the second embodiment.

In the third embodiment, the configuration of the printing system 100and the components included in the client terminal 1 and the imageforming apparatus 2 are the same as those of the first embodiment or thesecond embodiment. Differences from the first embodiment and the secondembodiment are processes performed by the processor 300 of the imageforming apparatus 2. Hereinafter, only the differences will bedescribed.

The processor 300 according to the third embodiment generates theexecutability information according to the operation state of the imageforming apparatus 2 when the hold printing execution instruction isreceived from the client terminal 1. The processor 300 generates theexecutability information at the timing when the printing is executable.In other words, the processor 300 according to the third embodimentgenerates the executability information even when the printing isexecutable, the image forming apparatus 2 is in the power saving mode,or another job is processed.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a flow of notification processes performedby the image forming apparatus 2, according to the third embodiment. InFIG. 9, processes identical to those of FIG. 6 are denoted by samereference numerals and details thereof are omitted.

After the process of ACT104, the processor 300 processes the other job(ACT301). Then, the processor 300 generates the executabilityinformation indicating that the printing is executable. Next, theprocessor 300 specifies the client terminal 1 as the transmission sourceof the job by referring to the print job table. Then, the processor 300controls the network interface 310 to transmit the generatedexecutability information to the client terminal 1 as the transmissionsource of the job (ACT302). Then, the image forming apparatus 2 ends theprocess of FIG. 9.

After the process of ACT105, the processor 300 transitions the powersaving mode to the ready state (ACT303). In detail, the processor 300increases the temperature of the fixing unit included in the printerunit 130 by supplying power to the printer unit 130. Accordingly, thetemperature of the fixing unit included in the printer unit 130 ischanged from the power saving temperature to the fixing temperature. Asa result, the image forming apparatus 2 is ready for printing.

Then, the processor 300 generates the executability informationindicating that printing is executable. Next, the processor 300specifies the client terminal 1 as the transmission source of the job byreferring to the print job table. Then, the processor 300 controls thenetwork interface 310 to transmit the generated executabilityinformation to the client terminal 1 as the transmission source of thejob (ACT304). Then, the image forming apparatus 2 ends the process ofFIG. 9.

The image forming apparatus 2 according to the third embodimenttransmits the executability information to the client terminal 1 at alltiming. Accordingly, the client terminal 1 displays the executabilityinformation transmitted from the image forming apparatus 2 on the screenat all timing. Thus, the user is able to immediately determine whetherthe printing is executable. Consequently, the user is able to executethe printing on the image forming apparatus 2 at the timing when theprinting is executable. Since the user approaches the image formingapparatus 2 at the timing when the printing is executable, a time untilprinting is shortened even when the user instructs the printing afterarriving at the image forming apparatus 2. Since the printing isperformed after the user arrives at the image forming apparatus 2,security is maintained. Thus, it is possible to maintain the securitywhile reducing the standby time of the user.

Hereinafter, modifications applicable to the first to third embodimentswill be described.

The processor 300 may determine whether the printing is executable basedon temperature information obtainable from a temperature sensor (notshown). In detail, the processor 300 determines that the printing isexecutable when a value indicated by the temperature informationobtainable from the temperature sensor is equal to or greater than atemperature threshold value. Meanwhile, when the value indicated by thetemperature information obtainable from the temperature sensor issmaller than the temperature threshold value, the processor 300determines that the printing is not executable. For example, theprocessor 300 may perform determination based on the temperatureinformation after it is determined that the printing is executable ineach embodiment above. Then, the processor 300 generates theexecutability information indicating that the printing is executablewhen it is determined that the printing is executable by thedetermination based on the temperature information.

According to such a configuration, the user's waiting time may befurther reduced. In detail, even when the printing is executable, if thetemperature of the fixing unit has not reached the fixing temperature,the printing is unable to be executed until the fixing temperature isreached. Thus, when it takes time to reach the fixing temperature, theuser needs to wait. According to this configuration, when the user seesthe notification, the printing is immediately possible. Thus, the user'swaiting time may be further reduced.

The processor 300 may be configured to switch the mode of the imageforming apparatus 2 to the ready state according to an instruction fromthe client terminal 1 when the mode of the image forming apparatus 2 isin the power saving mode. As such, upon receiving the hold printinginstruction from the client terminal 1, the image forming apparatus 2 inthe power saving mode sends an inquiry about whether to cancel the powersaving mode, to the client terminal 1. In detail, the image formingapparatus 2 inquires the client terminal 1 about whether to cancel thepower saving mode. In this regard, the display 103 of the clientterminal 1 displays a screen of selecting whether to cancel the powersaving mode on the screen. When the user selects whether to cancel thepower saving mode, the client terminal 1 transmits a response to theimage forming apparatus 2. The processor 300 of the image formingapparatus 2 switches the mode of the image forming apparatus 2 to theready state when the response obtained from the client terminal 1indicates that the power saving mode is canceled. On the other hand,when the response indicates that the power saving mode is not cancelled,the processor 300 of the image forming apparatus 2 maintains the mode ofthe image forming apparatus 2, i.e., the power saving mode.

According to the image forming apparatus 2 of at least one embodimentdescribed above, the printer unit 130 and the processor 300 areprovided. The printer unit 130 forms an image on a fed sheet and fixesthe image on the sheet by heating the sheet where the image is formed.When a print job received from the client terminal 1 is a hold printjob, the processor 300 transmits executability information according toan operation state of the image forming apparatus 2 to the clientterminal 1. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce a user's waiting timewhile maintaining security by the hold printing.

Some functions of the image forming apparatus 2 in the above-describedembodiment may be performed by a computer. In this case, a program forachieving the function is recorded on a computer-readable recordingmedium. Then, a computer system reads the recording medium and executesthe program. Here, the “computer system” includes an operating system, aperipheral device, or the like. Also, the “computer-readable recordingmedium” denotes a portable medium, a storage device, or the like. Theportable medium is a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, ROM, CD-ROM,or the like. Further, the storage device is a hard disk or the likebuilt in the computer system. Further, the “computer-readable recordingmedium” may be a storage that dynamically can store and maintain theprogram for a short period of time, like a network storage connected toa network in which the program is transmitted, e.g., the Internet or atelephone line. The “computer-readable recording medium” may be volatilememory in the computer system serving as a server or a client. Thevolatile memory stores and maintains a program for a fixed period oftime. Further, the program may be for realizing a part of the functionsdescribed above. Further, the program may realize the above-describedfunctions in combination with a program already recorded on the computersystem.

While certain embodiments have been described these embodiments havebeen presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit thescope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described hereinmay be embodied in a variety of other forms: furthermore variousomissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodimentsdescribed herein may be made without departing from the spirit of theinventions. The accompanying claims and there equivalents are intendedto cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope andspirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a networkinterface; and a processor configured to: upon receipt of a print jobfrom an external apparatus via the network interface, determine whetherhold printing is instructed for executing the print job, when the holdprinting is instructed, determine a state of the image formingapparatus, generate information about execution of the print jobaccording to the determined state, and control the network interface totransmit the generated information to the external apparatus, whereinthe state of the image forming apparatus includes: a first state inwhich the image forming apparatus is in a power saving mode and a secondstate in which the print job is ready for execution, and wherein, whenthe determined state of the image forming apparatus is the second stateand a remaining time to transition to a power saving mode is less than apredetermined time, the processor generates the information indicatingthat the image forming apparatus will enter the power saving mode in theremaining time.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in thefirst state, the processor generates the information indicating that theimage forming apparatus is in a power saving mode, and in the secondstate, the processor generates the information indicating that printingis executable.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when thedetermined state of the image forming apparatus is the first state, theprocessor changes the state to exit the power saving mode and thengenerates the information indicating that printing is executable.
 4. Theapparatus according to claim 1, wherein after transmitting the generatedinformation, the processor controls the network interface to furthertransmit to the external apparatus a confirmation notification, theconfirmation notification requesting confirmation as to whether printingwill be executed immediately.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 4,wherein after transmitting the confirmation notification, upon receiptof a response indicating that the printing will be executed immediately,the processor extends the remaining time.
 6. The apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to: when thedetermined state of the image forming apparatus is the first state,change the state to exit the power saving mode, and after exiting thepower saving mode but before controlling the network interface totransmit the generated information, generate the information indicatingthat printing is executable.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 1,wherein when the determined state of the image forming apparatus is thefirst state, the processor changes the state to exit the power savingmode according to an instruction from the external apparatus.
 8. Theapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the generated informationincludes a message to be displayed by the external apparatus.